Shibaura Machine Co. America marks 50 years of business in the U.S. at NPE2024 with multiple injection molding demonstrations at its own and partner booths. Focusing on interconnectivity and automation, all machine demos feature Shibaura’s ECSXIII series of all-electric injection molding machines.

In a medical molding cell, Shibaura is showcasing LSR molding of duckbill valves on a 110-ton press using a cold-runner system, four-cavity tool and cutting technology from M.R. Mold & Engineering. Star Automation provides a robot for the cell with Elmet metering and Advantage Engineering for temperature control. The duckbill valves are used in blood transfusion and other medical applications.

In a completely automated inmold labeling (IML) cell, a 390-ton EC390SXIII all-electric combines with auxiliary systems to mold, assemble and label 5-liter plastic buckets. Campetella supplies automation with a bucket and handle molded in a family tool with post-molding assembly.

In a multimaterial, multicolor process, Shibaura uses a 250-ton EC250SXIII machine with a Phoenix Proto aluminum mold to produce multicolor bottle openers in an insert molding operation. This process uses a Mold-Master E-Multi auxiliary injection unit to introduce a second material.

A cell combining foam molding, core back technology and nitrogen gas-assist features a 390-ton EC390SXIII all-electric to mold larger, lighter automotive test panels with less resin and lower environmental impact. The machine is paired with Yushin automation.

All the equipment in each production cell — from ECSXIII injection molding machines to multi-axis robots and other auxiliaries — will be seamlessly connected by machiNetCloud, Shibaura’s industrial IoT service. In a demo, attendees see how machiNetCloud can provide them with remote, real-time access to machine data, enabling them to control validated processes for molded components anytime, from any location. The technology gives users remote monitoring capabilities, as well as access to HMIs, including the ability to make process changes.

Shibaura ECSXIII injection molding machines are also featured in demonstrations at other booths during NPE, including Yushin America, Asaclean and Zeiger Industries.